First of all, you do not have to enclose your pool equipment (pump, filter, heater). A lot of people camouflage it with landscaping or a small fence, so that is not visible. Pool equipment is designed to be outdoors. As long it is taken care of and properly winterized at time of pool closing, it need not be covered.
Pool pump and rain
You should keep the pump dry and out of the rain. Rain that is allowed to fall on the pump can get into the motor and cause a short circuit, burning out the motor in the process. Cover the pump and never allow water to fall on it from above.
Is It Safe To Run The pool Pump With The Pool Cover On? It is safe to run the pool pump and filter with a swimming pool cover on. The pool cover doesn't in any way stop or hinder the pool pump from circulating the water or carrying out its function.
Protect the pump motor from water damage
In addition to removing circuit breakers, consider moving the motor indoors or covering it with a waterproof material to prevent water from getting inside.
Water accumulation can damage pool covers
Even the smallest amounts of water can add up, putting pressure on the seams of the cover and starting to weaken it. This pressure can cause rips in your pool cover and even make the cover collapse into the pool.
So if you have to leave it running for a week it shouldn't make a big dent in the electric bill. Having to spend the money on getting the pool back in shape will probably cost more than leaving it on anyway. I would make sure you fill the pool water as high as you can though since you will be gone for a week.
Depending on the size of your pool, we still recommend you run your pump run at least 4-6 hours a day during the fall and winter months. The daily cycle can be divided into multiple cycles, but each cycle should be no shorter than 4 hours, for all the water to pass through the filter at least once.
It may be cheaper to run the pump at night, but honestly you should run it 1 hour a day per 10 degrees of temperature at least, and it should be during the day. Running the pump at night should only be when you are doing a major chemical treatment such as algae clean-up.
The simplest way to hide your pool pump and filter is to put up a small wall or screen to block the view, and the noise from the pump. If you are handy with wood, you can saw-up your own pool filter screen to hide the pool pump, or you can buy vinyl privacy walls at most home stores and garden centers.
Keep it on a low shelf so it won't fall or roll. If you keep your motor outdoors all winter, you could build a 'lean-to' with lumber or plastic for snow, rain and tree branches, but keep good air flow around the motor, and don't wrap it in plastic, which traps moisture inside the motor.
A simple canvas cover or tarp with tie-down straps can be used to cover the filter, but should be removed prior to the commissioning of your swimming pool or, at minimum, the startup of the filter. A properly winterized filter shouldn't crack.
A small fence, wall or screen near your pool deck is a simple way to hide pool heat pumps from sight. Choose from glass, steel or wood to match the existing decor and materials of your existing outdoor area and visitors won't notice the all-important equipment thats keeping your pool at the perfect temperature.
It's best to run your pool pump during the day
Not only does sunlight give fuel for algae to grow, it also destroys your pool chlorine and this is why you should always run your pool during the day!
One of the most significant consumers of energy in homes with swimming pools are pool pumps, which keep pools clean by circulating water through filters. Pool pumps can consume 3,000 to over 5,000 kWh per year.
The size of your pool, the efficiency of your pump and filter, and how dirty your pool is are just some of the factors you need to consider. Nevertheless, most pool cleaning professionals would advise against running a pool pump for more than 8 hours a day.
If you have an above ground pool with the pool filter system and plumbing above ground (like nearly all above ground pools), pipes and pumps can freeze up in less than an hour of minus 32 degrees. The same is true for inground pool equipment that is not running when temperatures are below freezing.
You should have a freeze protection device that will automatically turn the pump on when the temperature drops to around 34 degrees. A freeze protector will keep your pool running as long as the temperature remains close to freezing.
The rule of thumb is generally 8 hours, although it could be anywhere from 6-12 hours, depending on your pool's size. Each pool is unique, so to keep your pool pump efficient and effective, you need to figure out exactly what your pool's turnover rate is.
A pool can only be safe for swimming without a pump for a few days and a maximum of one week. The definite number of days the pool will be safe will also depend on the temperatures of the water, the weather at that particular time, the level of chlorine, and how clean the pool was before the pump stopped functioning.
Many of the INTEX pump/filters are NOT UL rated and you should not swim with them plugged in. They do have one or two that are UL rated and can be left on while swimming. Just about all other pool equipment brands can be used while you are in the pool when properly installed.
If you want to activate the pump once a day, start with six hours, but never go lower than five hours, especially in the summer. If your pool is in constant use, you may need to run the pump for up to eight hours per day, frequently checking the water clarity and chemical balance.
Every pool must turn over at least once a day, so most pool pumps should run approximately 8 hours a day.
It's always best to run the pool pump during the hottest times of the day. The sun is one of the causes of chlorine depletion in your pool. The water moving around helps protect the chlorine from being burnt out from the sun.
You should run your pool pump and filter at least once a day to ensure you get proper filtration. Whether you have an inground pool, permanent above ground pool or portable above ground pool like an Intex, Summer Waves or Best Way pool, you'll want to run your pump daily and on average for 8 hours.
Whether an entire dump truck full of fill dirt, or a few yards of topsoil, you can make a nice cerrito, or small hill to hide the pool equipment, and deflect pool pump noise. Adding a berm or mound in front of the equipment won't work for everyone, you need to have extra space, a big wheelbarrow and a strong back.